Abia Warriors Head Coach, Imama Amapakabo, says his team’s 3-1 away defeat to Rangers International in Sunday’s 2026/2027 Euromatch–NPFL Matchday 8 fixture at the Awka City Stadium was self-inflicted, Completesports.com reports.
The 2015/2016 title-winning gaffer with Rangers also said defensive complacency and wastefulness in the final third contributed to the defeat.
Godwin Obaje put Rangers in the driving seat before the break with a headed effort in the 37th minute. It was his 101st goal in the domestic football league.
Captain Chidiebere Nwobodo doubled the Coal City Flying Antelopes’ lead four minutes after the break, but Chukwuemeka Obioma halved the deficit in the 52nd minute from the spot after a Rangers defender had been adjudged to have handled the ball in the area.
Also Read: EUROMATCH NPFL: ‘Thanks For Donating The Three Points’ — Rangers Mock Abia Warriors After Derby Win
But as Warriors encamped inside the Rangers area, probing for a possible equaliser, Daniel Monday struck on the counter in stoppage time to increase Rangers’ lead to 3-1.
Abia Warriors Coach Blames Backline For Defensive Lapses
The 57-year-old Amapakabo told reporters during a post-match press conference that a host of factors contributed to his team’s defeat, despite the obvious fact that they had far better opportunities in the pulsating clash.
“I think it was a good and entertaining game. But we lost the game ourselves,” the former Super Eagles goalkeeper coach began. “In the course of the game, we created far better chances.
“But we were so complacent in defence. We got punished every time we lost concentration.”
Amapakabo felt the scoreline could have been different if the referee had taken a different and correct decision earlier in the game.
In the fourth minute, Abia Warriors forward Ikoi Ettah was through on goal but was brought down on the edge of the area by a frantic Rangers defender.
The referee awarded a free-kick and showed a yellow card when, according to Amapakabo, he should have shown a red card to the defender. The Abia Warriors coach said the correct decision could have been a turning point for his team in the game.
“But then, there’s a big moment in the game that we should not forget. And I think that moment was in the fourth minute of the game. In my opinion, that was a red-card incident and I’m shocked that the referee didn’t give a red card there because it was an obvious denial of a goalscoring opportunity.
“But he just gave out a yellow card. And the rest, like they say, is now history. This game has come and gone and we just have to look forward.
Also Read: Euromatch NPFL: Ogunbote Demands Plateau United Response After Enyimba Defeat
“I’m the last person to complain about officiating. I’ve lived past that a very long time ago. This game is done and dusted. Nothing can turn back the hands of the clock again. But I just wanted to point that [incident] out because, in my opinion, that was an obvious error.
“Maybe that would have changed the complexion of the game completely. But this is football. Sometimes these things do happen.”
Amapakabo Defends Goalkeeper
The former Flying Eagles goalkeeper defended his goalkeeper amid howlers that gifted Rangers two goals in the game.
Amapakabo said the fact that Abia Warriors have two former great goalkeepers — Ike Shorunmu and himself — in their technical crew was not a reason the team could not concede goals.
“We played a game, we lost a game. We had lots of chances — like I said earlier, we created a lot of obvious, better scoring chances in this game. But it’s unfortunate that we didn’t convert them.
“If we bring the [now late] Rashidi Yekini, Richard Owubokiri to come and be coaches, would that mean that the strikers won’t miss goals? These are part of it. These are technical errors, not tactical [errors].
“If my team had lost because of tactical errors, I would have been worried. But then, it’s obvious that in the game, mistakes do happen and we just need to live with it.”
–>
Source: Complete Sports
